Ignit



J. H. HUNT.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, I918.

PatentedSept. 12, 1922;.

Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. HUNT, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DAY'ION ENGINEERING LABOBA- TOBIES COMIANY, .A, GOREQIQATION OF OHIO.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

Application filed September 28, 1918.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. HUNT, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Dayton, county of Montgomery,

State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignition Sy tems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to ignition systems One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an ignition system which will provide a plurality of synchronized sparks for igniting the explosive mixture in each of the engine cylinders.

Ajfurther object of the invention is the provision of an ignition system for internal combustion engines which will provide a plurality of ignition sparks for igniting each explosive charge, said ignition system having provisions whereby if one of the leads to the spark plugs should drop off or be short circuited in such a way that the sparking impulse would not be conducted to one of the plugs of an engine cylinder, the other plug will still be operative to fire the engine.

It is a further object to provide an ignition apparatus of novel construction whereby the foregoing objects can be most efficient 1y carried out.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the ignition coil forming a part of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a modified form thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram showing the features of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 3, designates a storage battery or other source of current grounded by wire 21 and connected by wire 22 to a switch 23. A resistance 24 is connected to one terminal of switch 23, and by wire 25 to a primary winding 26 of an ignition coil 28. Winding 26 is connected by wire 29 with primary winding 30 of a second ignition coil 32. Winding 30 is connected by wire 33 with the timer 34 which is connected by wire 35 with the ground. A condenser for internal combustion or explosion engines.

Serial No. 256,000.

36 is connected in parallel with contacts of the timer.

The ignition coil 28 includes a secondary winding 27 which cooperates with the primary 26, and said winding 27 is grounded on the battery and connected by wire 37 with a distributor 38. Said distributor 33 is connected so as to distribute to spark plugs l, 2, 3, and 4:.

The ignition coil 32 includes a secondary winding 31 whichcooperates with the primary 30, and said winding 31 is grounded on the battery and is connected by wire 39 with a distributor 40 which is connected so as to distribute sparking impulses to the respective companion spark plugs 1, 2*, 3, and 4 It will be understood that plugs 1 and 1 are located in the first cylinder, not shown, and 2 and 2 in the second cylinder, etc.

The operation of the invention is as follows: i

Ignition switch 23 isclosed, and the timer is controlled by the engine, notshown, in such a manner as tointermittently close and open the timer contacts so as to produce sparking impulses at the propertime in the well known manner. #Vhen the timer con tacts are closed current from the battery will flow through both of the primary windings 26 and 30 which are connected in series with the battery and timer. When the timer contacts separate, the energy stored in both of the windings 26 and 30 will be released and sparking impulses will be simultaneously generated in the high tension windings 27 and 31. These sparking impulses will be connected through the wires 37 and 39 to the distributors 38 and 10, which are so constructed and operated as to simultaneously distribute sparking impulses. .ln thismanner if it is desired to fire the first cylinder,

sparking impulses will be conducted to spark plugs 1 and 1* simultaneously, at which sparks will occur simultaneously to fire the explosive mixture. When it is desired to fire the second cylinder of the engine, spark plugs 2 and 2 will be simultaneously effective to fire the explosive mixture in that cylinder, and the same performance will be carried out in the other cylinders of the engine.

If, for any reason the high tension terminal 37 should be inoperative, or should the lead from the distributor 38 to any one of the spark plugs be grounded or become disconnected from the spark plug or otherwise inoperative, the connections from the high tension winding 31 to the companion spark plug would still be effective to deliver sparking impulses.

If, for example, should the high tension terminal connection 37 or the connection from distributor 38 to the spark plug 1 be disconnected or broken, when the timer contacts are opened the energy stored in the primary 26 could not be released through the high tension winding 27. But it has been found that by reason of the cooperation between coils 26 and 30 resulting from the connection shown, the coil 26 will dissipate its energy through the coil 30'at' the timethe coil 30 is dissipating its energy through the high tension winding 31., It has been found that the effects of coils 2b and 30 upon the winding 31 are accumulative with a result that the sparking impulse in'the high tension winding 31 is greater at this time than it would be if the primary windings 26 and 30 discharged their energy separately through their corresponding high tension windings 27 and 31. Therefore it will be seen where one of the spark plugs, as for example, plug 1, is rendered ineffective by reason of breakingthe connections referred to a more violent discharge will occur at the companion spark plug 1 In order to carry out this invention in the most effective manner, I have mounted the coils 28 and 32 upon the same core members. Referring to Fig. 2, 50 designates a core member having a central portion parallel to the axes of the coils, and C-shaped side portion, the end ofwhich extends into the coils 28 and 32, thus providing in effect two com- 7 plete magnetic circuits with air gaps inside the coils. In the preferred form of the core,

however, as shown in Fig. 1', I have omitted the iron central portion extending between the coils so that the core comprises two C- shaped members 51 and 52' placed face to face, and providing air gaps inside the coils. By arranging the core iron in the manner shown in Fig. 1 very satisfactory results have been obtained, and the amount of iron required is much less than where the coils are provided with separate cores. In this embodiment, two coils 28 and 32 are pro vided with a single magnetic circuit and this magnetic circuit assists in obtaining a discharge of the primary of one coil through the secondary of the other in case the high tension circuit of the former coil is interrupted.

While the forms of mechanism herein shown and described constitute preferred forms of embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

1. In an ignition system for internal-combustion engines having a plurality of spark plugs for each cylinder, the combination with a current source and a timer; of a plurality of ignition coils each having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary windings being connected in series with the timer and current source, and the secondary windings being arranged in parallel relation; a common magnetic circuit for the primary windings and providing an air gap within each winding; and means for conducting sparking impulses from each of the secondary windings to one of the spark plugs in each cylinder.

2. In an ignition system for internal-combustionengines having a plurality of spark plugs for each cylinder, the combination with a current source and a timer; of a plurality of ignition coils each havinr a primary winding and a secondary win ing, the primary windings being connected in series with the timer and current source, and the secondary windings being arranged in parallel relation; a common magnetic circuit for said primary windings comprising a plurality of C-shaped core members placed face to face, and spaced to provide an air gap within each primary winding; and means for conducting sparking impulses from each of the secondary windings to one of the spark plugs in each cylinder.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

. JOHN HUNT.

Vitnesses:

J. W. MCDONALD, M A. Psalm. 

